Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-11-10
THE FATEFUL GIFT.
A STORY.

csrriage was "altiAs Nv INV "ooi'
&c 'S iii need an extra wrap, my dear,
lOu .Stain breszes are chilly" said
rsip Charity. -,
V Srs.s, thinking how the dust would
" ui' t,sshuess. At II had a super
lance of health, while my wardrobe
was scanty one.
800 YOU an old cloak to wrap
a Hs vonSi continued Mrs. Tileston. l
NV mo head sorrowfully, realizing full
noverty-strIcken state. My shah
!. Comfortable winters cloak had
: siyen to little Peggy Hopkins when
70 sast to visit my fathers wealthy
w, father's people are wealthy" said
~, 10 Mrs. Hopkins, as with a kind
H. mon her gentle, care-worn face,
s.re the cloak to the lame girl. at
= nicely made over for Peggy by a
inning, and no doubt Agnes will re-
: MANY handsome presents if she is
nobtfui and obliging and wins their
kction."
10 cousin. Mr.. Tileston was q mil
si,e an elderly man, who late in life
married a maiden lady as rich as
o. nseIf.
bsy had but one child, small boy of
BID mothers idol.
had been staying at Cousin Rogers
s,s month when | received an invita-
10 visit a Joung lady who lived at
ssmere, a pretty village seven miles
tapt. Helen Bigelow had met me at
oousin's house in Highbury and want
me to Join the gay party of young
onlest her fathers handsome country
ns.
although yet a schoolgirl, her costumes
he so tasteful, 80 appropriate in their
bple elegance that, thinking how few
"a the changes / could make in my
univ wardrobe, at first l was half in
ned 10 refuse her kind invitation, much
louged to visit her; but finally l
rpisned up my white India muslin,
Ivsht few new ribbons, and accepted
|tcr if began life in the east in that
(rinkng, cowardly fashion I might as
N return at once to the obscurity of
l. little western town, since, unless a
|rtune dropped down at my feet from
clouds some fine morning, my pros
1t for new dresses was vague indeed,
isdowy as the unsubstantial fal &C of a
sam"
Besides, l knew this invitation would
ease mother; and, dear heart, she had
yed and sacrificed so much to give me
: liter social advantages than could be
Etaned in the little frontier village,
erefore my letters home were invari
lie sunny ones, and if my disillusions
tre frequent and saddening her unset
ID heart was not panied by hearing of
lem, and no doubt she went about her
ptk happily picturing her daughter as
loving in kind of puritan paradise,
fth Cousin Charity to play the part of a
fudent fairy godmother.
Well, she was prudent enough, that Is
lrite certain, even to the verge of penu-
business.
Once she demonstrated with me for
ffiting so many letters home, saying the
postage stamps cost 40 much she wonder
how could afford them-she couldn't.
1t used to seem very homogeneous to
/ the factof her having been named
panty for cognomen more iRconsist-
p With her nature could scarcely have
Pen found.
Wait minute, Agnes" Then she
|eai with her soft, slippered tread up
e vide stairs to the large front chamber.
Zen she came back watt of perfume
rom tabled lands of the orient, pre-
fosd her. 1t was lying across her arm,
4 quaint graceful wrap. Here is a
a' you can wear while you are at
F4esmere. Be careful of it,"
mat was every word she said, in low,
RI voice, putting it round me.
aoS lovely, and how kind of you to
Fll II TO me; will be very careful of it,"
hammered, qHite overcome by such I'M
Pec'ed and thoughtful generosity. The
~ came to my eyes, tears of contri-
'Ol 70 think how had wronged her in
thoughts, deeming her misery and
'sssping to sinful degree.
ole fepelled me, this little woman, with
y Void gray eyes, small and set closely
As'asf, her mOUselike tread, and silent,
Fnchiu ways.
nov l stopped down impulsivelv, and
!. M 1.s nsfr grateful for this really moth
\ o :, !. mind thanking me, oaIy be care
: VI H. That was ali she said. "Good.
"a Inc carriage rolsd away.
nv g,'' 'ne rough stones of Highbury's
=, '.'eet, sleepy and elm em broidered,
-. !. 'l'o the open country, that was a
.'su' drive over the hills in the rosy
r.-,ug OF life and May. Little breezes
Ii .'sshly' breathing the aroma of pine
aP'uee tree, and pink arbutus flowers
,'-s II sunny hollows peeped shyly
s.is-g the roadside, sweet as rustic
n. ~ blooming in homely garb. Gas.
IA, s eaAs aashing down from the high
.as1 s. ms over gray and messy rocks,
ass50vs. - !, as they watere6 green
"a. II Shere cattle lTed their heads "a
n, q soft mild eyes at US.
o., +, ? gelow had sent her coachmau
d "a ~ r, .ls' / had the roomy carriage
,ar.s -'!'e J. and spread out my Dor.
Il. eoi5 cas- are the better to admire il
ssi I 's ..! y was a beauty; never before
Tasv s. one like it. nor have | since
sav ~ not manufacture such shawls
tsts Tas :1'sI had once been pure white
ps,i6-s5 q lying folded away in thu
eslo~ss darkness of the old chest baf
Tie 5e.r v 4 ereamys ivory tint.
/! :aaps3 9ofaer was com posed of odd
lss:ss ga .s'es' and these fan-likt
aiSly Bs,roi warm, rich shades, bean.
u mr.